We began testing an autonomous drone that we assembled and configured by ourselves. The plan is to use it for research purposes like thermal scanning of photovoltaic panel fields and agricultural spraying.
Specifications:
- 20 Kg maximum payload
- 100 Km/h top speed
- 20 to 30 minutes of battery life
- Up to 40 Km theoretical range
Using MissionPlanner application, we can make a flight mission based on Google Maps and then upload it into the flight controller wirelessly. Once the pilot starts the mission from his radio controller, the spacecraft is able to takeoff, follow the established path and then land all by itself.
Hardware components used:
- Pixhawk 2.4.8 flight controller based on ARM microprocessor
- T-motor P60 brushless motors
- Flame 60 HV motor drivers
- 3DR telemetry system
- Ublox GPS
- Crissfire link for remote control
Software components used:
- ArduPilot
- MissionPlanner
- QgroundControl
